As she walked along, she discovered that her brothers had been digging with remarkable care, following her requirements almost to the letter. Si Jiuyue praised them for their quick action while explaining how to excavate the large chambers and ventilation shafts. Si Beishu and the others listened with great focus. After chatting for a while longer, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, the group quickly threw themselves into the work. Si Jiuyue headed out with her uncles to the fields to turn the sweet potato vines. By the time they reached the edge of the field, the other villagers were already in position. After some lighthearted banter, they began the intense labor. Yesterday, about twenty people had cleared six acres; today, they intended to finish the remaining four in the morning.
Si Jiuyue bent her waist, working diligently. After turning only two rows of vines, she felt a stinging sensation on the back of her hand. Looking down, she saw a few small ants crawling there. Their bites were itchy and caused her skin to turn red, but she didn’t have time to worry about the pain; she just buried her head and kept working. When it became truly unbearable, she went to the edge of the field, picked some purslane, chewed it into a pulp, and applied it to her hand. The pain subsided in moments. Seeing this, the others followed suit, chewing up purslane and applying the juice to their own hands before returning to their work.
Chapter 344